Swimming in the Sea

Swimming in the Sea in South East England

Hastings

Book 1 Walk 25 Rye to Hastings
Book 2 Walk 29 Hastings to Rye

With a busy road along the seafront, there is something rather urban about the beach at Hastings, which, like others on the south coast, is shingle shelving down moderately to flat sand at very low tide. Once you are in the water, however, it is quite scenic, with the old castle ruins towering above you, and the crumbling town pier to one side. If you want seclusion, Fairlight Glen is better, however (see below)

Food and drink: the seafront swarms with the usual fish and chip shops and cafes, but for a classier atmosphere, seek out the old town, inland just before the fishing huts at the east end of the beach

On sunny summer weekends, when crowds swarm to Hastings, the adjacent town of St Leonards offers less crowded beaches. Walk a mile or so west along the seafront promenade, or get off at St Leonard's Warrior Square station. At low tide, there are underwater rocks along this coast, but the section of beach in front of the Royal Victoria Hotel is rock-free. The seafront has many elegant buildings, but the town itself has seen better days.